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High school basketball: Kentucky-bound Marcus Lee heads talented group of players and team at NorCal Tip-Off Classic

By Steve R. Waterhouse Correspondent

Posted:
11/23/2012 07:01:42 PM PST

Updated:
11/23/2012 10:51:35 PM PST

NEWARK -- There will be no shortage of talented boys basketball players at Newark Memorial High on Saturday.

The sixth annual NorCal Tip-Off Classic features seven games and several NCAA Division I prospects.

The event's marquee game features Deer Valley against Sacramento at 8:30 p.m. The Wolverines are ranked ninth in the state by Cal-Hi Sports and the Dragons are 27th.

The most recognizable player will be Deer Valley's 6-foot-9 senior Marcus Lee, who is headed to the University of Kentucky. Lee did not compete in the North Coast Section Foundation Game on Tuesday because of a minor groin injury, but he did play in the Wolverines' 77-73 win over Oakland Tech on Wednesday.

Deer Valley also returns guard Kendall Smith, who had 11 points, six assists and five steals against Oakland Tech. Smith has interest from a number of West Coast schools, including UNLV, Arizona State, Long Beach State and Pacific.

Dublin, which went 17-11 last season and lost in the second round of the North Coast Section Division II playoffs, plays Freedom in the opener at 11 a.m. The Gaels feature guard Joe McGlaston and forward Eric Nielsen, and Freedom is led by junior post Elliott Smith.

Heritage, who is paced by guard/forward Pierre Carter and forward Shon Briggs, will face McNair-Stockton at 12:30 p.m. The Patriots are coming off a 17-11 season that included a second-round NCS Division I playoff loss to De La Salle.

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El Cerrito, led by senior Rae Jackson, will square off against fellow Division III team Miramonte at 3:45 p.m.

El Cerrito, which also has key players in juniors Tyrell Alcorn and Devin Eisley, went 21-9 last season and lost in the Northern California Division III quarterfinals. Miramonte features senior Khiran Shastri, who recently signed with Chaminade.

McClymonds will face an Antelope team at 5:30 p.m. that went 30-1 last year and features a couple key returners in Gabe Bealer and Isaiah Ellis.

McClymonds is coming off a 19-11 season that included an Oakland Athletic League section title and a trip to the NorCal Division I semifinals where it lost to eventual state runner-up Sheldon in a thriller, 59-55. The Warriors are led by Dalvin Guy.

Newark Memorial, an NCS Division II champion from a year ago, plays Castro Valley at 7 p.m. The Cougars, ranked 18th in the state by Cal-Hi Sports, are paced by guard Joey Frenchwood, forward Damien Banford and center Matthew Thomas.

Newark's season came to an end last year in the NorCal Division II finals when it suffered a 63-58 loss to eventual state champion Archbishop Mitty-San Jose to cap a 25-8 season. Castro Valley, which went 22-8 and lost in the NorCal Division I quarterfinals, is led by Derrick Clayton and Jalen McFarren.